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Questions 10 about Orthodox

FINDING THE TRUE FAITH Introduction

This is my attempt to answer questions I’ve been asked about Orthodox Christianity by friends and family. It is intended to be a conversation starter, so use it as a jumping off point if you want to learn more. The most important things to do are:

Ask a priest. This ebook is not the authoritative position of the Orthodox . Speaking with a canonical Orthodox priest is the best way to understand what the Church teaches on any of the topics discussed here. If you’re planning to visit an Orthodox service, contact the priest and let him know you’ll be coming.

Read. There’s more information on Orthodoxy online than you could ever read. Not all of it is helpful, so be selective. The Orthodox Church in America and Antiochian Archdiocese websites are good places to start. Ancient Faith is also an excellent source of Orthodox teaching.

Pray. If you’re from another – or no tradition at all – and are seeking the true faith of the first , spend time in prayer that God will help you on this journey. 1 What is Orthodoxy?

“We do not change the The Orthodox Church is the oldest Christian Church in the world. Founded by boundaries marked out , its beginnings are chronicled in the Acts of The Apostles. It has existed in an by our Fathers. We keep unbroken continuity since then. No other Christian church or fellowship can accurately the Tradition we have claim this. received. If we begin to lay down the Law of the Church even in The term “orthodox” means “right belief” or “right practice,” and as such we follow the the smallest things, the teaching of Jesus and His apostles, and maintain those teachings and practices as taught whole edifice will fall by the very first Christians. to the ground in no short time.” The is one of the largest Christian fellowships in the world, second only to the Roman Church. Around the world, people from other — St. John of Damascus Christian traditions who desire a connection to an ancient Christian faith are coming home to Orthodoxy. Greek, Russian... 2 what’s the difference?

“The Holy Orthodox There is only one Orthodox Christian Church, often referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church has never Church. All canonical Orthodox churches are in communion with one another, and all perceptibly changed Orthodox believers share the same faith, practice the same liturgy and receive the same from Apostolic times, . and, therefore, no one can go astray in finding out what she teaches.” At the turn of the 20th Century, many immigrants did not speak English, and found that the Church was a refuge where they could be among their own people. While this has — St. Raphael of Brooklyn led to the ethnic character of many Orthodox parishes, they are not denominations in the way Protestant churches are.

The Orthodox Church is not divided. It is the one true Church, and all Orthodox Christians are brethren in Christ, regardless of language, culture or location. I’ve got the Holy . 3 Isn’t that all I need?

“Stand fast and hold The and the Epistles are honored and read in every Orthodoxy liturgy. But in the traditions which you the first decades after Christ’s death and resurrection there was no written Bible as we were taught, whether by know it today. Christians worshiped Christ long before there was a Bible to read. word or our epistle.”

The early churches that spread across the Roman Empire read from the Jewish scriptures — 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (our ) for years, occasionally receiving a letter from one of the Apostles. Eventually these letters, as well as the most revered written accounts of Christ’s ministry, were collected into what is our . The Orthodox understand that the Bible came from the Church, not the other way around.

Holy Tradition, which includes scripture, the use of icons, and the Holy , are inter- connected gifts through which we worship God. Both Holy Tradition and written Scripture are our inheritance from the fathers of the Church, and we hold fast to both. What do you believe 4 about Mary?

“I have been amazed Orthodox Christians believe that Mary is the mother of God, and that she was chosen by that some are utterly God for this special purpose. Whereas Eve said “no” to God, Mary said “yes.” We believe in doubt as to whether that she was sinless of her own free will, and ever-. Orthodox Christians revere her or not the Holy Virgin as the , or God-bearer. is able to be called the Mother of God. For if our Lord Jesus Christ is God, We do not pray “to” Mary, as we do to God. Instead, Orthodox Christians ask her to how should the Holy intercede on our behalf to her Son, Jesus. This leads to the question of whether we pray Virgin who bore him not to the dead. be the Mother of God?” Orthodox Christians believe that physical death is not the end of our existence. Just as — St. Cyril of Alexandria we ask our friends and family to pray for us, we ask those who have departed this life to pray for us. As the mother of Christ, Mary holds a very special place in the hearts of Orthodox Christians, and her prayers to her Son are seen as being of great value. Isn’t having icons in 5 church a form of idolatry?

“Possibly a contentious God commanded the people of Israel not to make any painting or sculpture for the unbeliever will maintain purpose of worshiping it as a god. But this is not the purpose of icons in Orthodoxy. that we worshiping images in our churches Just as the Ark of the Covenant was engraved with images to remind us of heavenly are convicted of praying things, icons are an aid to worship. They remind us of the “great cloud of witnesses” that to lifeless idols. Far be it from us to do this. Faith have gone before us. We venerate icons in the way we would hold dear a photograph of makes Christians, and a cherished loved one who has passed on. God, who cannot deceive, works miracles.“ In the early church, illiteracy was common, and having written scripture was of little use unless there was someone to read it to the people. Icons are a method of conveying the — St. John of Damascus through a visual medium. They are created with very specific rules so that they correctly tell the story of Christ and His of Man through his death, burial and resurrection. Is Orthodoxy just another 6 version of Catholicism?

“We hear it remarked During His earthly ministry Christ instituted His Church. His missionaries to the world that it matters not what spread the Good News and founded churches across the Roman Empire. one believes if he does right. But if one does not For over 1000 years there was a single Christian communion that spread throughout the believe right, he does not world. Over time, cracks developed in that communion. Incorrect doctrine began to find do the right thing — that is, if his belief is sincere a foothold in the Roman Church, eventually leading to its split with the other churches and carried out in planted by the apostles of Jesus. practice. If one believes that which is wrong, and The Protestant was a split with the in the 16th Century. All still acts otherwise from Protestant denominations have roots in the Reformation, and there are now over 30,000 force of circumstance, he different Christian denominations. is wrong in heart.“

But Christ instituted one Church, and that Church still exists today. It is ancient. It is — St. Sebastian Dabovich unchanged. It is Orthodox. Do you believe that 7 faith alone saves us?

“If we make every effort Christ came into this world to save us from sin. Through His death Christ defeated death to avoid death of the and sin. He calls each of us to a right relationship with only Him. body, still more should it be our endeavor to avoid To say that we are saved by faith and not works misunderstands the nature of both. death of the soul. There Faith in Christ is itself an act, as is the acceptance of Christ as our Savior. To say that our is no obstacle for a man who wants to be saved works in this life are unimportant is to dispute the words of James (“faith without works other than negligence is dead”) and Paul (“faith working through love”). and laziness of soul.” If we are truly seeking the salvation of Christ, a change begins to occur in us. Our — St. Anthony the Great thoughts, words and deeds begin to reflect His love for us and ours for Him. We may stumble, but we never stop trying to draw closer to God’s salvation.

Metropolitan Kallistos Ware has said this about the Orthodox position on salvation: “I have been saved, I am saved, and I am being saved.” Do you confess 8 your sins to a priest?

“Do not be ashamed Orthodox Christians confess our sins to God. Often we do this in the presence of a priest, to enter again into the who is a witness and an aid to our confession. The priest is not there to humiliate or to Church. Be ashamed condemn us. He is there to help us understand that sin is a wound, and true repentance is when you sin. a medicine. Do not be ashamed when you repent.“ In the early church, confession was done in front of the entire congregation! This later — St. John Chrystotom became impractical, and priests took on this responsibility as confessor. Confessing aloud in the presence of a priest brings with it the understanding of the seriousness of sin and the freedom that comes with confession and repentance.

When we sin, we are turning away from our relationship with God. Turning back to him and away from our sins is the beginning of repairing that relationship. A priest helps guide us to repentance through his wisdom and experience. Do you have to be 9 Orthodox to be saved?

“One should not seek There is an expression in Orthodoxy: We know where the Church is, but we cannot be among others the truth sure where it is not. that can be easily gotten from the Church. For God has revealed Truth to the whole world, and there are many expressions of belief in her, as in a rich that contain some grain of that truth. But Christ is the only way to communion with God, treasury, the apostles have placed all that and the fullest expression of this is within the Church instituted by Christ. pertains to truth, so that everyone can drink this Jesus alone will ultimately judge who is and is not saved. It is not for us to speculate. The beverage of life. task of any Christian is to seek Christ where He may be found, and the fullness of the She is the door of life.” Gospel may only be found in the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

— St. Irenaeus of Lyons What does Orthodoxy have 10 to say to the modern world?

“Let us plant ourselves In an age of “anything goes” religion, where anyone who can quote bible verses can start upon the rock of faith a church, the Orthodox Church stands as an unchanging guardian of the Tradition of the and the Tradition of the first Christians. Church, removing not the landmarks set by our The Orthodox Church brings the entire being into the worship of God. All the senses holy fathers, nor giving room to those who are are engaged. Everything in an Orthodox liturgy is for the worship of God. Nothing in an anxious to introduce Orthodox service is put in place for the sake of an emotional reaction or an altered state novelties and to under- of mind. It is there to direct all of our being toward the worship of God. mine the structure of God’s holy ecumenical The best way to see what Orthodoxy has to say is to attend a liturgy. You’ll be welcomed and apostolic Church. with open arms to experience the fullest expression of Christianity – the True Faith.

— St. John of Damascus Come and see. © 2016